Chief Master Sergeant Nathan Chrestensen is the Command Chief Master Sergeant (Wolf Chief), 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Chief Chrestensen represents the 2,800 Airmen, Soldiers, and Civilian members of the Wolf Pack, serving as the principal advisor to the commander on all enlisted matters, including those that affect the health, welfare, morale, training, professional development, readiness, quality of life, and effective utilization of assigned personnel. The wing is responsible for the planning and support of counter-air interdiction and close-air support in defense of more than 51 million citizens of the Republic of Korea. Chief Chrestensen also provides crucial engagement with the senior enlisted leadership of the Republic of Korea Air Force, serving to foster better understanding and improved readiness.
Chief Chrestensen is a third generation Airman. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa and graduated from Sioux City East High School in 1999. He enlisted in 2001 and began his career as a weather forecaster. His background includes various duties ranging from worldwide strategic airlift support at the 618th Air Operations Center to Army combat operations in Iraq to space weather prediction and specialized support for the Intelligence Community. Additionally, he has served as an Additional Duty First Sergeant, Weapons and Tactics Operations Superintendent, and Group Senior Enlisted Leader. He has spent nearly two years deployed in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, ENDURING FREEDOM, and Combined JTF Horn of Africa.
Prior to his current position, he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 54th Fighter Group at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
EDUCATION
2005 Airman Leadership School
2007 Associate of Applied Science in Weather Technology
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course
2012 Bachelor of Arts in Leadership, Bellevue University
2012 Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2012 Professional Manager Certification
2012 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (Correspondence)
2014 Joint Special Operations University Joint Fundamentals Course
2015 Advanced Weather Management Course
2016 Navy Primary Professional Military Education
2016 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (In-Residence)
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II Course
2018 Certified ScrumMaster Course
2021 Air Force Personnel Center Squadron Commander and Senior Enlisted Leader Course
2022 Group Senior Enlisted Leader Course
2022 Chief Leadership Course
2024 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation
2024 Wing Command Team Course
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2001 – September 2001, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. September 2001 – March 2002, Student, Technical Training School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. March 2002 – August 2004, Regional Weather Forecaster, 15th Operational Weather Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill.
4. August 2004 – April 2006, Global Mobility Weather Forecaster, 618th Air Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
5. April 2006 – April 2007, Weather Forecaster, Unit Deployment Manager, 8th Operations Group Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
6. April 2007 – August 2010, Weather Forecaster, 55th Operations Support Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
7. October 2008 – May 2009, Battlefield Weather Forecaster, Task Force 449, Camp Striker, Iraq
8. August 2010 – July 2012, NCOIC Mission Weather Element, 55th Operations Support Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. December 2010 – July 2011, NCOIC Mission Weather Element, 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Al Udeid, Qatar
10. July 2012 – May 2014, NCOIC Airfield Support Function, 55th Operations Support Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
11. October 2012 – April 2013, Weather Forecaster, 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan
12. May 2014 – July 2014, Flight Chief, 55th Operations Support Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
13. July 2014 – July 2017, Flight Chief, 15th Operational Weather Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill.
14. July 2017 – February 2021, Operations Superintendent, 1st Weather Group, Offutt AFB, Neb.
15. February 2021 – January 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 2d Weather Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
16. January 2022 – May 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 54th Fighter Group, Holloman AFB, NM.
17. May 2024 – Present, Command Chief, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, ROK
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2008 55th Operations Group Weather Warrior of the Year
2010 55th Operations Support Squadron Tuskegee Airman Award Nominee
2010 55th Operations Group Weather Warrior of the Year
2010 55th Wing Weather NCO of the Year
2011 55th Wing Weather NCO of the Year
2011 Al Udeid Grand Slam Hall of Fame Inductee
2012 55th Operations Support Squadron NCO of the Year
2013 55th Operations Support Squadron NCO of the Year
2014 55th Operations Support Squadron Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee
2015 15th Operational Weather Squadron Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee
2015 15th Operational Weather Squadron SNCO of the Year
2015 1st Weather Group SNCO of the Year
2018 557th Weather Wing Weather SNCO of the Year
2018 Air Combat Command Weather SNCO of the Year
2018 557th Weather Wing SNCO of the Year
(Current as of May 2024)